Expandable sealing devices and methods

Abstract

An insertion device includes a stent and a plurality of sealing elements where each sealing element is operatively attached to the stent and an earclip retention system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ear canal insertion device comprising:
 an earclip support, wherein the earclip support includes:
 a first arm; 
 a second arm, wherein the first arm and the second arm pivot about a common pivot point forming an angle; 
 a resilient member, wherein the resilient member is positioned between the first arm and second arm, wherein the resilient member is configured to rotate the first arm and the second arm about the common pivot point to a first angle of an unactuated position, wherein the earclip support is actuated when a second angle between the first arm and the second arm is less than the first angle; and 
 
 a first and a second contact system, wherein the first contact system is connected to the first arm and the second contact system is connected to the second arm, where the ear canal insertion device is configured to insert at least a portion of the first and second contact system past the aperture of an ear canal when the earclip support is actuated and inserted. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , where the first and second contact system are combined into a foam earplug. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 , where the resilient member is attached between a portion of the first arm and a second portion of the second arm. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 3 , where the first contact system is in the form of a first half tip. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 4 , where the second contact system is in the form of a second half tip. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 5 , where the first and second half tips are made of a polymer. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 5 , where the first and second half tips are made of foam. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 3 , further including a first microphone. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 8 , further including a speaker. 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 9 , further including a second microphone. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  10 , where the second microphone is located closer to a distal end of the device than the first microphone. 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 11  further including a processor. 
     
     
       13. An ear canal insertion device comprising:
 an earclip support, wherein the earclip support includes:
 a first arm; 
 a second arm, wherein the first arm and the second arm pivot about a common pivot point forming an angle; 
 a resilient member, wherein the resilient member is positioned between the first arm and second arm, wherein the resilient member is configured to rotate the first arm and the second arm about the pivot point to a first angle of an unactuated position, wherein the earclip support is actuated when a second angle between the first arm and the second arm is less than the first angle; and 
 
 a first and a second contact system, wherein the first contact system is connected to the first arm and the second contact system is connected to the second arm, wherein the first contact system includes two portions, a first portion and a second portion, where the first and second portions are on opposite sides of the common pivot point, where the ear canal insertion device is configured to insert at least a portion of the device past the aperture of an ear canal. 
 
     
     
       14. The device according to  claim 13 , where the first and second portion are made of foam. 
     
     
       15. The device according to  claim 13 , where the first and second portion are made of polymer. 
     
     
       16. An ear canal insertion device comprising:
 an earclip support, wherein the earclip support includes:
 a first arm; 
 a second arm, wherein the first arm and the second arm pivot about a common pivot point forming an angle; 
 a resilient member, wherein the resilient member is positioned between the first arm and second arm, wherein the resilient member is configured to rotate the first arm and the second arm about the common pivot point to a first angle of an unactuated position, wherein the earclip support is actuated when a second angle between the first arm and the second arm is less than the first angle; 
 
 a first and second contact system, wherein the first contact system is connected to the first arm and the second contact system is connected to the second arm, where the ear canal insertion device is configured to insert at least a portion of the device past the aperture of an ear canal; and 
 a first microphone. 
 
     
     
       17. The device according to  claim 16 , further including a speaker. 
     
     
       18. The device according to  claim 17 , further including a second microphone.